Sign up

Advanced Concepts

Site Migration

Moving a website to a new domain, platform, or structure.

On this page

What is Site Migration

Site migration involves significant changes to a website's URL structure, domain, platform, or content. Migrations carry SEO risk - improper handling can cause major traffic losses, while good execution can maintain or improve rankings.

Example

Migrating from example.com to newexample.com, or from HTTP to HTTPS, or from an old CMS to a new one.

How to apply it

Create comprehensive redirect maps, update all internal links, monitor GSC for errors, notify Google via Change of Address tool, preserve URL structures when possible.

Tip:Never migrate during your busy season. Traffic drops are normal post-migration - recover time can be weeks to months. Plan buffer time.

Track it in GSC Boost

GSC Boost reads your Search Console data and tells you what to fix first, with the clicks each fix is likely to bring. Start with the guide or sign up free.

Related terms

Redirect (301/302)Sending users and search engines from one URL to another.Canonical TagHTML element that specifies the preferred version of a page to avoid duplicate content.HTTPSSecure version of HTTP that encrypts data between browser and server.

Related resources

Was this page helpful?

Sign up freeGet a quote